In continuation of what has been reported in the trail mail, the Central Government has notified the methodology for calculation of Green Credit with respect to tree plantation. The methodology laid down is as follows: –
a) The Forest Department of all State and Union Territory will identify land parcels, in open forest and scrub land, wasteland and catchment areas which will be made available for tree plantation.
b) Any person or entity desirous of undertaking tree plantation for the purposes of generation of Green Credit may apply to the Administrator electronically through a website established by the Central Government for that purpose.
c) On receipt of the proposal, the Administrator will prepare and issue demand note to the applicant which will include the cost of tree plantation and administrative expenses to be paid to the administrator within a specified period. The applicant has to pay the amount to the Administrator on or before the period specified through a bank draft or any other means decided by the Administrator.
d) On payment by the applicant, the Administrator will direct the Forest Department to undertake plantation in accordance with the management plan or working plan and this has to be completed within a period of two years from the date of payment.
e) On completion of tree plantation, the Forest Department shall submit a report to the Administrator and issue a certificate of completion of tree plantation to the applicant.
f) On receipt of the report verifying the activities undertaken by the applicant, the Administrator may generate and issue Green Credit to the applicant based on the following-
i. total number of trees planted in assigned land parcel and
ii. the report and certification of completion of tree plantation activity.
g) The Green Credit is to be calculated at the rate of one Green Credit for per tree grown through the tree plantation on such land parcel, subject to minimum density of 1100 trees per hectare which is based on local silvi-climatic conditions, on the certification of completion of tree plantation provided by the concerned Forest Department.
h) The Green Credit generated can be exchanged for achieving the compliance of compensatory afforestation in case of diversion of forest land for non-forestry purposes under the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980.
i) The Green Credit which is generated in lieu of tree plantation can be used to report under the environmental, social and governance leadership indicator or under corporate social responsibility.
Please refer to the attached document for a detailed read of the Notification.
Source: Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change
